TMC Endangers National Security by Protecting Infiltrators; 'Maha Jungle Raj' in West Bengal Must End, Says Modi

Prime Minister Modi's Sharp Attack on TMC

PTI, SINGUR, JAN 18, 2026: Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Sunday mounted a sharp attack on the TMC government, accusing it of "playing with national security" by protecting infiltrators for vote-bank politics. He stressed that ending the ruling party's "maha jungle raj" was vital to restore law and order, development, and investor confidence in West Bengal. With the 294-member state assembly polls due in three months, Modi framed the electoral contest as a direct battle between "the TMC's maha jungle raj and the BJP's good governance," asserting that infiltrators who had settled in the state using forged documents must be identified and sent back.

Addressing a rally at Singur in Hooghly district, a site etched in Bengal's political memory for the 2008 agitation against land acquisition that forced Tata Motors to pull out of its Nano car project, the Prime Minister urged voters to back the BJP's "double-engine government" model. He argued that industry and investment would come to the state only when law and order improved, and that such an environment was possible only under the BJP.

Accusations Against the TMC

"The TMC is playing with the security of West Bengal and the country. They protect infiltrators because they form their vote bank," he said, alleging that illegal immigration along Bengal's borders had been allowed to flourish under the state government’s watch. Stressing infiltration for the second consecutive day of his Bengal visit, Modi said, "Border fencing has been stalled for years. Fake documents are being made. It is time to completely stop infiltration and identify and send back those who entered using forged papers. A BJP government would ensure this."

He alleged that despite repeated appeals, the TMC government had failed to cooperate with the Centre on border fencing. "For the last 11 years, the central government has repeatedly written to the state government saying barbed-wire fencing must be erected along West Bengal's borders and land is required for it. But the TMC has shown no concern," he said, accusing the ruling party of helping those who prepare fake documents for infiltrators.

BJP's Promise to Secure Bengal

"The TMC can go to any extent to protect infiltrators by giving them shelter and creating fake documents," Modi said, urging voters to back the BJP to "secure borders, restore law and order and put Bengal back on the path of growth." Calling for a change of guard, the Prime Minister said it was necessary to oust the TMC's "maha jungle raj" and bring in a BJP government committed to good governance. "Shouldn't such a government be punished for acting against the interests of the people of Bengal?" he asked, claiming that voters across the country were increasingly punishing governments that blocked development and welfare delivery.

Drawing a parallel with the erstwhile AAP government in Delhi, Modi said central schemes were earlier stalled there but the government was voted out. "Today, Ayushman Bharat is benefiting the poor there. The people of Bengal have also decided to teach the TMC a lesson so that a BJP government is formed and Ayushman Bharat is implemented here," he said.

Modi alleged that rioters, syndicates, and mafias enjoyed a free run in Bengal under TMC rule. "Industry and investment will come only when law and order improves. Syndicate tax and mafia rule will end only under the BJP, this is Modi's guarantee," he said.

Despite the BJP seeking to sharpen its industrialisation narrative ahead of the assembly polls by organising the rally at Singur—where the abandoned Tata Nano factory once stood—as a marquee political event to underline West Bengal's missed economic opportunities, Modi stressed that restoring law and order was the first step towards creating an investment-friendly environment.

Modi said Bengal's industrial decline was rooted in syndicate raj. "The smallest of TMC leaders have begun considering themselves local fiefdom owners," he alleged, reiterating that a BJP government would end syndicate raj and mafia culture. Accusing the TMC of being "enemies of women, youth and farmers," Modi said daughters were unsafe, and the future of the youth was being compromised.

Invoking the Ideals of Ishwar Chandra Vidyasagar

He also invoked the ideals of social reformer Ishwar Chandra Vidyasagar, saying Bengal needed governance that empowered women and youth, not "maha jungle raj." Claiming that public enthusiasm reflected Bengal's resolve for "real poriborton" after 15 years of TMC's misrule, Modi led the crowd in the slogan, "Paltano darkar, chai BJP sarkar" (There is a need for change, we want a BJP government).

TMC Reacts to Modi's Allegations

Reacting sharply to the Prime Minister's scathing attack, the Trinamool Congress accused him of "peddling lies," asserting that contrary to his claims of large-scale infiltration, the authorities had yet to detect a large number of Bangladeshis in the voters' list in the SIR (Systematic Voter Registration) exercise. TMC state president Joy Prakash Majumdar told PTI that Modi had spoken of the presence of a large number of infiltrators without clarifying whether border security was the responsibility of the Centre or the West Bengal government.

"For the past 11 years, Modiji has been repeating the same set of lies about infiltrators, Bangladeshis and Rohingyas without explaining how he arrived at such conclusions," Majumdar said. He further pointed out that the Election Commission had stated that the SIR exercise identified 58 lakh unmapped voters, a figure that did not support the allegations made by Modi, Union Home Minister Amit Shah, or other BJP leaders. "None of the omission of around 58 lakh names can be linked to the infiltration bogey. No Rohingya was found. The discrepancies occurred due to reasons such as death of voters, migration, and duplicate entries," Majumdar said.

"So, their allegations of infiltrations fall flat," he said. 

On Modi's remarks about law and order and crimes against women in West Bengal, the TMC leader cited National Crime Records Bureau data to claim that the situation was "far more serious" in states such as Uttar Pradesh, Maharashtra, and Rajasthan.